The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

VATICAN CITY, 1 FEB 2011 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from Benedict XVI to the second Latin-American Continental Congress for Vocations, which is being held in Cartago, Costa Rica, from 31 January to 5 February. The first congress, organised by the Holy See and the Latin-American Confederation of Religious, was celebrated seventeen years ago, while the current gathering is the result of an initiative by bishops responsible for the pastoral care of vocations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"The great task of evangelisation requires an ever increasing number of people to respond generously to the call of God and make a lifelong commitment to the cause of the Gospel", the Pope writes. "One precious fruit of incisive missionary action, along with a general strengthening of Christian life, is the increase in vocations of special consecration. In some way, the abundance of vocations is an eloquent sign of ecclesial vitality, and of a faith that is deeply experienced by all members of the People of God".

"In this second congress - which has as its theme "Master, in Your Name will I Cast my Nets" - those who work in the field of the pastoral care of vocations in Latin America and the Caribbean have come together with the aim of strengthening vocational pastoral care, that baptised people may answer the call to become disciples and missionaries of Christ. ... Pastoral care of vocations must be fully integrated into more general pastoral care, and should have a capillary presence in all fields of pastoral work. ... Experience shows us that, where vocational pastoral care is well planned and constantly practiced, vocations are not lacking. God is generous, and our own commitment to vocational pastoral care in all particular Churches must be equally generous".

"Vocations", Benedict XVI continues his Message, "are not the result of any human project, or of some efficient organisational strategy. At the deepest level, they are a gift of God. ... It is important to recall the primacy of the life of the spirit as the basis of all pastoral planning. The young generations must be given the chance to open their hearts to a greater reality: to Christ, the only One Who can give meaning and fullness to their lives. ... Yet at the same time, the strengthening of our spiritual life must lead us increasingly to identify ourselves with the will of God, and to offer a clearer and more transparent testimony of faith, hope and charity".

"Faithful and joyful witness of one's own vocation has been and remains an excellent way to awaken in young people the desire to follow the footsteps of Christ. This must be accompanied by the courage to propose to them, with delicacy and respect, the possibility that God may be calling them too. Often, the divine vocation opens its way through human words, or thanks to an environment in which people experience a living faith. ... The world needs God", the Pope concludes, "and for this reason it will always need people who live for Him and announce Him to others".
MESS/ VIS 20110201 (530)

VATICAN CITY, 1 FEB 2011 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for February is: "That all may respect the family and recognise it for its unmatched contribution to the advancement of society".

His mission intention is: "That Christian communities may witness to the presence of Christ in serving those who suffer from disease in those mission territories where the fight against disease is most urgent".
BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/ VIS 20110201 (80)

- Msgr. Savio Hon Tai-Fai S.D.B., born on 21 October 1950, ordained a priest on 17 July 1982, appointed as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples on 23 December 2010.

- Msgr. Marcello Bartolucci of the clergy of the diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, Italy, born on 9 April 1944, ordained a priest on 9 November 1968, appointed as secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on 29 December 2010.

- Msgr. Celso Morga Iruzubieta of the clergy of the diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada - Logrono, Spain, born on 28 January 1948, ordained a priest on 24 June 1972, appointed as secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy on 29 December 2010.

- Msgr. Antonio Guido Filipazzi of the clergy of the diocese of Ventimiglia-San Remo, Italy, born on 8 October 1963, ordained a priest on 10 October 1987, appointed as apostolic nuncio on 8 January 2011.

- Msgr. Edgar Pena Parra of the clergy of the archdiocese of Maracaibo, Venezuela, born on 6 March 1960, ordained a priest on 23 August 1985, appointed as apostolic nuncio on 8 January 2011.
OCL/ VIS 20110201 (230)

VATICAN CITY, 1 FEB 2011 (VIS) - A note published today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announces details of forthcoming ceremonies in which cardinals will take possession of their titular or diaconate churches:

At 6.30 p.m. on Saturday 5 February, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, will take possession of the diaconate of St. Agatha of the Goths, in Via Mazzarino 16, Rome.

At 6 p.m. on Friday 11 February, Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will take possession of the diaconate of St. Mary in Aquiro, in Piazza Capranica, Rome.

At 6 p.m. on Saturday 12 February, Cardinal Francesco Monterisi, archpriest of the papal basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, will take possession of the diaconate of St. Paul alla Regola, in Via San Paolo alla Regola 6, Rome.

At midday on Sunday 13 February, Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don of Colombo, Sri Lanka, will take possession of the title of St. Lawrence in Lucina, Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina 16/A, Rome.
OCL/ VIS 20110201 (190)